Ladder



vation of the same.

UNllTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIS A. MESSER AND FREDERICK J. COX, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,887, dated June 20, 1893.

Application filed March 29, 1893. Serial No. 468,186. (No model.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ELLIs A. MESSER and FREDERICK J. Cox, citizens of the United States, residing'at Riverside, in the countyof San Bernardino and State ofv California,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to producea ladder of great strength and lightness, and one which will be' easy of construction, and will be cheap and durable.

Our invention consists inal'addercomprising the combination of two flat side members arranged with their greatest width respectively transverse the axis of the rounds or steps of the ladder; the rounds or steps arranged between such side members two truss or brace members each consisting of a flat strip having one side sloping from the center toward each end and each arranged respectively upon the outer face of one of the side members and with its greatest width parallel with the axis of the rounds of theladder, and a series of ties or straining connections arranged to draw the two brace members and the side members firmly against the rounds of the ladder.

Our invention further comprises a ladder having its side members each provided with a brace strip arranged to resist lateral motion, and a series of wire ties arranged respectively beneath the rounds of the ladder and each comprising a wire link having its ends arranged respectively one around each brace strip and having its center twisted together to bind the two brace strips firmly against the sides of the ladder.

Our invention also consists in various combinations of parts and features of construction hereinafter fully set forth.

'The accompanying drawings illustrate our invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ladder embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a side ele- Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of a fragment of a ladder illustrating a form of straining tie which we have found to be very satisfactory, and preferable in point of simplicity, cheapness and durability. Fig. 4 is a cross sectionv on line 00-00 of Fig.1 looking up.

In the drawings we have illustrated a form of ladder which is very easy of construction, and is remarkably rigid and light.

A, A represent the two side members which are fiat and tapering from the bottom to the top, each arranged with its greatest width transverse the axis of the rounds or steps S, and are provided respectively with transverse grooves 8 adapted and arranged to receive the ends of the steps. The steps S are arranged between these side members with their ends respectively seated in the grooves s.

B, B are the brace or truss members, which as shown are formed of flat wooden strips extending almost the fulllength of the side members A, A and are each made wide in the cen: ter and sloping toward each end; these brace members are arranged respectively upon the outside of the members A, A with their greatest width parallel with the axis of the steps or rounds S.

G are the straining or brace ties, which as shown each comprises a wire band or link having its endloops c and 0 respectively arranged around and encircling the brace members B, B, and having its center twisted to take up the slack of the link and bind the two brace members firmly against the side members A, A, which in turn are bound firmly against the steps or rounds of the ladder, thereby making a strong and rigid frame with the smallest possible weight of material. In order to cause the wire ties to be held rigidly in place we pass each member of the loops 0 0' through suitable holes a provided in the side. members A A in pairs arranged respectively below the rounds of the ladder and in line with the sides of the brace members' B, B so that such brace members will lie between the two perforations of each pair of perforations. These ties are arranged beneath each step of the ladder and out of the way.

The combination of the side members and the auxiliary brace or truss members arranged to resist lateral motion enables us to provide a ladder which is especially adapted for use in picking fruit for the reason that such ladders are frequently used almost fiat or at a very slight inclination with the surface of the earth and consequently when weight is placed upon a ladder of ordinary construction it is 'struction.

liable to sway sidewise and form a very insecure footing for the fruit picker. We overcome this objection by our improved con- It will be seen that when our improved ladder is once put together and the straining ties are twisted at the-center to secure the desired tension, the ladder is thereby rigidly held togetherand that practically no strain comes upon the nails which hold the ladder together, and there is no liability of the side members being sprung outward to allow the ends of the steps to come out of the grooves or gains in the sides of the side members.

Now, having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A ladder comprising the combination set forth of the two flat side members each arranged respectively With its greatest width transverse the axis of the rounds or steps; such rounds or steps arranged between such side members; two truss or brace members each consisting of a flat strip having one side sloping from the center toward each Lend-and arranged respectively one upon the outer side of each of the side members and with its greatest width parallel with the axis of the' rounds, and a series of ties or straining connections arranged to bind the brace members and the side members against the ends of the rounds or steps.

2. The ladder set forthhavingits side memstrip, and having its center twisted together 0 to bind the brace strips firmly against the side members of the ladder.

3. The ladder fit forth havingits side members each provided with the brace strip arranged and adapted to resist lateral motion and provided with. the series'of perforations and a series of ties arranged respectively be-, low the rounds of the ladder, and each tie comprising a wire link having each member of its loops respectively passed through one of the perforations provided in the sidemembers, such perforations being arranged in pairs, below the rounds of the ladder and in line with the sides of the brace members so that such brace members lie between the perforations of each respective pair of perforations, the end loops each being respectively arranged around and encircling the brace members each having its center twisted to take up the slack of thelink and bind'the'twobrace members firmly against the side members. ELLIS A. MESSER. FRED. J. COX. Witnesses: F. M. TOWNSEND, O. P. WIDAMAN. 

